Culinary Craze

Written By: Mary Jane McCall | Issue: 2016/11 - November

Autumn is a time of transformation, as the greens of summer morph into the show-stopping colors of fall.  

So, too, has what was previously known as Highlands Culinary Weekend, transformed into the Highlands Food and Wine Festival, a four-day party held November 10-13. The new name speaks of the reimagining of this weekend as a festival for all, celebrating food, drink, music, and camaraderie.

The festival boasts several new events which include Truckin’, The Main Event, Sunday Gospel Brunch and Rockwood Rocks. 

Friday, November 11, offers the new and exciting Highlands Truckin’, a nod to the latest culinary craze, the food truck. Local and regional food trucks including Root Down, Farm to Fender, Canyon Kitchen and The Velvet Cup will roll into town offering their finest. Nationally-known indie folk trio The Lone Bellow will have everyone’s toes tapping, with local favorite Nitrograss opening the show. Enjoy craft brews from Currahee Brewing Company and Satulah Mountain Brewing. Truckin’ is sponsored by Old Edwards Inn and Spa, TJ Bailey & Peter Millar.

Saturday, November 12 is The Main Event, the ultimate autumn oyster roast held in a picturesque location just off Main Street. The Main Event will be hosted by four incredible guest chefs – Johannes Klapdpor of The Library Kitchen and Bar in Sapphire; Justin Burdett of Local Provisions in Asheville (recently named one of Southern Living’s Top New Restaurants 2016); Charles Hudson of Sunburst Chef & Farmer and Josh Sweat of Greenbrier Farms offer farm fresh small plates.  Guests of the Main Event will enjoy wines by Conundrum, brews by Currahee Brewing, bourbon by Virgil Kaine and much more.  Rhiannon Giddens headlines the Main Event’s afternoon of music. Giddens is known as the lead singer, violinist, banjo player and a founding member of the Grammy-winning country, blues and old-time music band Carolina Chocolate Drops.  She’s won the 2016 Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass and recently joined the cast of  ABC’s “Nashville.”

The Main Event is sponsored by Landmark Realty Group, Laurent-Perrier and Conundrum Wines, SYSCO and David Bock Builders.

 On Sunday, November 13, plan on enjoying a Gospel Brunch with specialties from “Chopped” champion Zeb Stevenson, Passerelle’s Teryi Youngblood and Michael Alton of Meritage Bistro while enjoying the inspiration stylings of the Blind Boys of Alabama. The Blind Boys are a five-time Grammy Award winning gospel group who first sang together in 1939. After seven decades of touring, countless prestigious appearances, and a successful discography, the Blind Boys of Alabama have created their own solid musical history.  Mountain Faith, a Franklin family music phenomenom, will open.

The Gospel Brunch is sponsored by Pat Allen Realty Group, Ray and Diane McPhail, Meritage Bistro, Cathead Vodka, and Charleston Bloody Mary Mix.

On Sunday evening the piece de resistance will be Rockwood Rocks, an exclusive event where a very few lucky guests will have the pleasure of a private concert by internationally-known and recognized Bruce Hornsby. Hornsby is a triple Grammy-winning singer and keyboardist who boasts a repertoire of classical, jazz, bluegrass, folk, Motown, gospel, rock, and blues.

Culinary delights will be offered by Old Edwards Inn Executive Chef Chris Huerta, Atlanta Chef Adam Evans,  Meherwan Irani of Asheville’s Chai Pani, and 492’s Josh Keeler.

Rockwood Rocks is sponsored by Landrover/Maserati of Asheville, Laurent-Perrier and Old Edwards Inn and Spa.

These new events complement the popular events of the opening night Grand Tasting, Sip and Stroll, and of course, the weekend wine dinners.

Starting the festival off in style is the elegant Grand Tasting at the stunning campus of The Bascom on Thursday, November 10.  Here you’ll enjoy live music while sipping and savoring fine wines and craft beers. The Grand Tasting is sponsored by Pat Allen Realty Group, Highland Hiker, Entegra Bank, Tryon Distributing, Mutual Distributing, Epiphany Wines, Grapevine Distributors, Satulah Mountain Brewing and 4th Street Market.

Saturday is the ever popular Sip and Stroll, when town merchants roll out the red carpet with wine and hors d’oeuvres.  What a relaxing way to spend the day discovering the shops of Highlands.  Sip and Stroll is sponsored by Drake’s Diamond Gallery and Mountain Fresh Grocery. 

As in year’s past, the continuing highlights of the weekend are the extraordinary wine dinners prepared by some of the town’s finest restaurants.  Call your favorite restaurant, or discover a new favorite, and see for yourself how Highlands celebrates its culinary scene.

For more information and to purchase your tickets, visit highlandsfoodandwine.com or call (828) 526-2112.